Used 2022 Lexus GX

The world of off-road luxury SUVs is a small niche. One of the major players in this small segment is the Lexus GX. The GX is an upscale interpretation of Toyota’s legacy of rugged off-road SUVs. It has an old-school body-on-frame construction, a V8 engine with a proven reliability record, and standard 4-wheel drive. The result is a premium SUV with exceptional off-road capabilities from Lexus, Toyota’s luxury brand.

The Lexus GX has been in the same generation since the 2010 model year, but it gets a few nice updates for 2022. It has more standard features, including heated, power-folding mirrors, and the Intuitive Parking Assist system with parking sensors. It also gets an updated 10.3-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and standard navigation. There’s a new Black Line Special Edition, which is essentially an appearance package for the Premium model.

The Lexus GX is an off-road-ready luxury SUV with few direct competitors. The closest is the Land Rover Discovery, another premium 3-row SUV with good off-road capabilities and similar pricing. The Toyota 4Runner is a more affordable alternative to the GX, but it has a V6 rather than a V8, and it isn’t as luxurious. Suppose off-road capability isn’t a priority for you. In that case, one of the more road-friendly competitors to the GX like the Lincoln Aviator, Acura MDX, or Genesis GV80 will suit you better.

The Lexus GX isn’t as refined on the road as most SUVs in this class. It drives more like a truck thanks to its rugged body-on-frame architecture and old-school V8 engine. Most midsize, 3-row luxury SUVs have a smoother, more car-like driving experience, but few can match the off-road chops of the GX.

One of the best features of the Lexus GX is the standard Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS). KDSS helps keep this SUV level in on- and off-road driving conditions, improving handling and ride comfort. On top of that, there’s an available Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS) that employs electronically controlled dampers to adjust to any given road condition. This system comes with Normal, Sport, and Comfort modes.

All of this clever engineering helps keep the Lexus GX stable and reasonably comfortable, but compared to more modern players in this class like the Acura MDX, the ride is stiff, and body roll is an issue.

The standard V8 engine making 301 horsepower gives the GX plenty of thrust. It has more than enough power for around-town driving and highway passing, plus it’s up for just about any off-road adventure. However, it also makes the GX one of the most inefficient models in this class. Many rivals offer similar (or higher) levels of performance more efficiently.

Lexus has made some updates here and there to the interior of the GX over the years since this generation came out in 2010, but it’s still a dated design. It’s not a bad interior, especially with the new infotainment screen, but it feels like you’re sitting in an older SUV.

Despite the aging design of the interior, it’s pretty comfortable. Seating for seven comes standard, and optional second-row captain’s chairs cut that down to six. There’s plenty of room in the first two rows, while the third row is best reserved for children. You get NuLuxe faux leather seating surfaces in the base and Premium trims. Genuine leather is optional in Premium and standard in the Luxury trim.

The appearance of the Lexus GX does an excellent job displaying its character as rugged yet luxurious. It wears a large “spindle” grille that’s ubiquitous through the Lexus lineup flanked by a stylish LED light signature with sharp angles. The body is boxy with some pronounced character lines making it look attractive.

The back of the GX looks nice, but we have a gripe about the swing-out tailgate. The hinge is on the passenger side, which means it opens toward the curb. If you’re loading or unloading cargo while the GX is parallel parked, the tailgate creates a wall between the curb and the cargo area.

The dimensions of the Lexus GX are a bit unconventional compared to the rest of this class. It’s taller and more narrow than the average midsize luxury SUV. Most players in this segment are longer, lower, and wider than the GX.

OFF-ROAD CHOPS
Body-on-frame construction, standard 4-wheel drive, and a trusty V8 engine make the Lexus GX one of the strongest off-roaders in this class.

LEXUS SAFETY SYSTEM+
This standard safety tech suite includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure alert, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control.

The Lexus GX comes nicely equipped at the base level, especially with some new standard features for 2022. Standard equipment includes heated, power-folding mirrors, LED headlights, 18-inch alloy wheels, illuminated running boards, 7-occupant seating, simulated leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, and a power moonroof.

Every new GX comes standard with the Lexus Safety System+ safety tech suite. This includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure alert, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control. Front and rear parking sensors also come standard.

The standard, updated infotainment system in the GX is now a 10.3-inch screen with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa, and navigation.

There are a few different grades that improve the style and luxury of the GX. The Premium model adds 3-zone automatic climate control, LED fog lights, heated/ventilated front seats, heated rear outboard seats, wood interior trim, and rain-sensing wipers.

There’s a new Black Line Special Edition model for 2022. This adds a unique appearance package to the Premium trim with glossy black exterior trim, including unique wheels and an optional Nori Green Pearl paint color exclusive to the Black Line Special Edition. There’s a black headliner, 2-tone black and gray seats, and matte black ash wood interior trim on the inside.

The Luxury model sits at the top of the GX model range. It’s packed with high-end features like leather seating, an adaptive suspension with self-leveling rear air suspension, 19-inch alloy wheels, headlight washers, a heated steering wheel, power-folding third-row seats, and illuminated sill plates. Some of these features can be added to the Premium trim via the available Premium Plus Package.

An available Off-Road Package for the Luxury trim improves the capabilities of the GX. It adds more cameras, a transmission cooler, a fuel tank protector, Crawl Control, and Multi-Terrain Select with different drive modes to accommodate different types of terrain.

There’s a Sport Design Package available for the Premium and Luxury trims which adds a sporty appearance package while retaining excellent off-road capabilities.

Second-row captain’s chairs are optional on all but the base trim.

The sole engine option in the Lexus GX 460 is a 4.6-liter V8 producing 301 horsepower. This engine has been around since 2005 with no significant changes since then. Although it’s aging and inefficient, this V8 has a proven record for reliability, and it’s a suitable mill for off-roading. It can also tow up to 6,500 lbs.

Every Lexus GX has a 6-speed automatic transmission and full-time 4-wheel drive.

4.6-liter V8
301 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm
329 lb-ft of torque @ 3,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 15/19 mpg